Curtain construction



Dece 12, 1950 E. P. BIXER CURTAIN CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 31, 1947 @MJ/VD Q fi/xw INVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 12, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT QH 'FICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates generally to curtains or similar window coverings, and more particularly to an improved type of window curtain in which the valance, heading, and body panel are integrated. A preferred form of. curtain installation is one in which the curtain is of greater width than the window opening so that when the cur tain is hung, it is gathered along the rod to produce a shirred or draped effect. This is also true of the valance. It is among the principal objects of the present invention to provide curtain and valance structure in combination with a heading, in which the curtain and valance are pregathered along the upper edge thereof to produce a. predetermined shirred or draped effect even when the length of the rod is substantially equal to the length of the heading as fully extended.

A desired form of curtain installation is one in which a rod having curved ends is used. This projects the main central portion of the rod a substantial distance away from the window frame or building opening margin with which it is asso ciated. This rod carries a valance having round ed ends, which are curved toward the Wall or window frame upon which the rod is supported.

'When such construction is used, a second rod,

located rearwardly Of the first one, carries the upper edge of the curtain.

Another object of the present invention lies in the provision of structure of the class described iwhere the head and valance extend beyond the lateral side edges of the curtain body panel so that a double hung curtain and valance effect is obtained with only a single curtain rod.

These objects and other incidental ends and adtially equal length with respect to the heading element.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective of the upper left hand corner of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view as seen from the plane 5-5 on Fig. 3. In accordance with the invention, the curtain, generally indicated by reference character It,

includes broadly a body panel element H; a valance element [2; and a heading element [3.

The body panel element includes a top edge 15; a bottom edge 56; a left side edge H and a right side edge is. The body panel element may be composed of any suitable sheet material to harmonize with or contrast with the remaining elements of the curtain.

The valance element [2 is elongated in character and generally horizontally disposed. The

valance element l2 has a top edge 26, a bottom free edge 21, a bottom hem fold edge 22, a left side edge 23 and a right side edge 24. The valance element I2 is composed of flexible planar material, textile or homogeneous, and is of a length, between the edges 23 and 24, which is substantially in excess of the distance between the edges ii and I8 when the body panel element I I i in a flattened and extended condition.

The heading element l3 has a front free edge 2?, a rear free edge 28, a top fold 29 and end or side edges 38 and 3|.

The parts may be fabricated and connected to each other in different orders, as desired. There follows here, by way of example, one manner of so doing. The heading element, in the form of an elongated strip is provided, along the edges 2 and 28, with edge hems produced by the rows of stitching and 34, respectively, which reinforce prevent the raveling of said edges. After the .eznent it is folded longitudinally about its central axis, said fold, indicated by reference char acter 29, forms the top edge of the finished curtain 19. Two elongated rows of stiching 36 and 3'! join the front and rear portions 38 and respectively, to form the heading member-iii, the rod passage 4!, the valance'carrying member and the body panel carrying member 43. The members 332 and 6.3 preferably extend downwardly a substantially equal distance below the IOW'Of stitching 31. V The body panel element H, at the upper edge l5 thereof is folded upon itself and secured by the row of stitches 45 to form an edge hem which reinforces the upper edge of the panel H. The upper portion of the body panel element ll, inwardly of the stitches 45 is gathered or shirred, and is secured in such gathered or such shirred condition upon the forward surface of the body carrying panel member by the rows of stitching 4e and 4?. The: stitches 46 and All are disposed upwardly of the edge 28. The valance element l2, at the upper edge 20 thereof is folded upon itself and secured by the row of stitches 50 to form an edge hem which and reinforce the edge 2| of the valance element l2.

Since the distance between the edge 23 and the edge 24 of the valance element l2, when said element is in an extended condition, is greater than the distance between the edge and the edge 3| of the heading element l3, said valance element l2 will always present a Shirred or ruflled appearance with respect to the heading element I3, even when said heading element I3 is fully extended longitudinally thereof.

Likewise, because the distance between the edge I: and the edge H! of the body panel element when said element is in an extended condition, is greater than the distance between the points if! and H of the heading element l3, said body panel element II will always present a shirred or ruffled appearance with respect to the heading element 13, even when said heading element I3 is fully extended longitudinally thereof.

When the curtain is hung, it is placed upon a rod 89 of a well known type having curved ends 8| and 82. length, that is to say between the edges Eli and 3|, which is at least substantially equal to the distance between the terminals of said rod in any adjusted position thereof, it being understood that the rod 30 is longitudinally adjustable in a telescopic manner. When so hung, the curtain l0 will appear as seen in Figures 2, 3 and 4, where the heading element I3 and the valance element l2 extend around to cover the rounded ends 8| and 82 of the rod 80, and to form a desirable finished or trim appearance for the lateral edges I? and I8 of the body panel element The present curtain may be utilized desirably in different installations. For example, the present curtain may have a straight rod (lacking the curved ends 8| and 82), in which the terminals of the rod are located outwardly of the actual window opening, the edges I! and H3 being coterminous with the lateral edges of the window opening. This will produce an efiect seen in Fig. 1, where the heading and valance produce a double hung effect. This, therefore, produces an optical effect as if the heading and valance elements were hung from one rod and the curtain body panel element I! were hung from a separate rod located rearwardly with respect to the rod which carries the heading element and valance element.

Where the length of the rod passage 4|, that is to say the d stance between the edges 36 and 3| is substantially greater than the length of the rod 85 upon which the curtain i8 is hung, the heading element l3 may itself be gathered longitudinally along said rod to increase the shirring or draped effect. In the last mentioned type of installation, all three of the elements 12 or l3 will be Shirred or gathered,

The heading element I3 is of a the excess fullness in the valance element and body panel element producing a luxurious and highly pleasing appearance.

By virtue of the fact that the gathering of the various elements with respect to each other is predetermined at the time of manufacture, the parts cannot become lost during washing and the laundering operation is simplified.

It may thus be seen that I have disclosed a novel and useful curtain construction which produces a double hung effect with a single rod and which, by its simplicity saves time both in manufacture, use and maintenance.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. Curtain construction comprising: a heading element of predetermined length having first and second lateral end edges; a body panel element, the upper portion of which is gathered and secured to said heading element, said body panel element having side edges which are spaced in the area of said gathering a distance which is substantially less than the distance between the end edges of the head ng element.

2. Curtain construction comprising: a heading element of predetermined length having first and second lateral end edges; a body panel element, the upper portion of which is gathered and secured to said heading element, said body panel element having side edges which are spaced in the area of sa d gathering, a distance which is substantially less than the distance between the end edges of the heading element; and a valance element, the upper portion of which is gathered and secured to said heading element, said valance element having side edges which are substantially coterminous with the end edges of the heading element.

3. A window curtain comprising: heading ele ment composed of an elongated strip of flexible sheet material having end edges and being folded upon itself to form a rod passage, the longitudinally free edge port ons of said heading element forming downwardly extending valance and body panel carrying members, said valance carrying member being located forwardly of the body carrying panel member; a body panel element gathered and secured at the upper portion thereof to said body panel carrying member, said body panel element having side edges which in the gathered area thereof, are spaced from each other a distance which is sub stantially le s than the distance between the end edges of the heading element; and a valance element secured at the upper portion thereof to said valance carrying member, said valance element having side edges which are substantially coterminous with the end edges of the heading element.

EDMOND P. BIXER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,194,242 Kahn Mar. 19, 1940 2,323,444 Bixer July 6, 1943 2316,4618 Lepow Feb. 25, 1947 

